What Is an AT Evaluation?

An assistive technology (AT) evaluation is a process for understanding a person's access needs and matching helpful features, strategies, and tools to those needs. It is not simply the selection of a particular device. The goal is to understand the person, the tasks they want or need to do, and the environments where those tasks take place, and then to identify options that support participation and independence.

Purpose of an AT Evaluation

An AT evaluation helps clarify what is getting in the way of participation and what supports may help. It focuses on function and access rather than on a diagnosis alone, and it results in individualized information that a person, family, or team can use to make decisions.

Person, Task, and Environment

Effective AT decisions consider three things together: the person (strengths, preferences, and access needs), the tasks (what the person wants or needs to accomplish), and the environments (where and with whom tasks happen). Looking at all three helps avoid recommending tools that work in one setting but not another.

Access Barriers

An evaluation identifies barriers to access, such as difficulty with speaking, writing, reading, seeing, hearing, moving, or operating standard devices. Naming the barrier clearly makes it possible to look for features that address it.

Feature Matching

Rather than starting with a product, the evaluator identifies the features a solution would need, then compares options that offer those features. This "feature matching" approach keeps the focus on the person's needs and allows for more than one possible solution.

Technology Trials

Where appropriate, an evaluation may include trials so the person can try options in real tasks and settings. Trials provide practical information about what works, what does not, and what may need adjustment.

Environmental Considerations

Physical setup, positioning, seating, lighting, noise, network access, and the people who provide support all affect whether a tool will be usable day to day. These factors are considered as part of the process.

Implementation and Training

Identifying a tool is only part of the picture. An evaluation may consider what setup, training, and support are needed for the person and the people around them so that a tool is actually usable in daily life.

Documentation and Recommendations

Evaluations typically result in written documentation describing findings and recommendations. Recommendations describe options and considerations; they are informational and do not guarantee a specific result.

Follow-Up

Needs change over time. Follow-up allows for review, adjustment, and additional support as tasks, environments, or the person's needs change.

This page provides general educational information about assistive technology evaluations. It is not individualized professional advice and does not constitute medical, legal, educational, insurance, or funding guarantees. For information about requesting an individualized evaluation, see Request an Evaluation.